The 9‑Month Renovation Nightmare of a Singaporean Couple—and What It Teaches Us from Lifestyle News

Oops! When Your Dream Interior Design Turns Into a Nightmare

During the chaotic Covid‑19 era, it’s normal for homeowners to expect a few bumps in the renovation road. But if you pick the wrong Interior Design (ID) firm, that pit‑stop can turn into a full‑on commotion.

Typical Pitfalls One Might Face

• Move‑In Delays: The date keeps shifting like a bad karaoke chorus.
• Shoddy Workmanship: Think squeaky cabinets, crooked tiles, and paint that looks more like a toddler’s art project.
• Communication Misfires: Calls drop mid‑conversation and emails? They’re reading the spam folder.

Lessons Learned from a Rough ID Experience

1. Do Your Homework: Thumbs‑up a contractor’s previous work before you sign any papers.
2. Set a Real Timeline: Add a little buffer for those inevitable curveballs.
3. Keep Lines Open: Texts work better than voicemails when the voice goes dead.
4. Know When to Walk Away: If quality isn’t up to snuff, it’s cheaper to get the job right than to fix a mess later.

Bottom Line

Your interior design choice matters. The right firm keeps the project on track, the communication flowing, and your home ends up feeling just the way you imagined—not a chaotic patchwork of delays and mistakes.

Getting off to a rocky start

L’s Roller‑Coaster Project Experience

From day one, L found herself tangled in a web of confusion. The project form was anything but helpful—no clear timeline, no roadmap, just a fog of uncertainty.

Problems That Prolonged for Six Months

• Subcontractors were sloppy, almost like they never read the guide.
• Communication was barely a whisper—you could almost hear the silence.
• There was a general lack of commitment, as if everyone had slipped into a permanent coffee break.

Designer Shuffle

L’s frustration ballooned as she was haggled off from one designer to the next. “We talked to three designers—two of them politely left. We had hopes that the boss of the ID would straight‑up fix things, but all we got was more chaos.”

Lesson Learned

When teamwork feels like a game of musical chairs, hope can turn into an absurd comedy of errors. Setting clear schedules, stable communication, and reliable oversight are the real magic secrets—otherwise, you’re just heading to the next punchline of a never‑ending story.

An early handover

When a Design Project Goes Missing…

1⃣ The First Cut of the Chain

On March 14 last year, L hit the ground running and hired an interior‑design firm. By June 17 the original designer had sent over 3D renderings and a price quote—typical first steps, no surprises yet.

2⃣ A 70% Deposit & a Sudden Goodbye

Fast forward to July 1: L was okay with a whopping 70 % deposit (most firms ask for 10‑20 %). Right after that, the designer who did the renderings decided to walk away from the firm. A red flag flicked on immediately.

3⃣ Two New Faces, One Old Problem

The project jumped to ID Two and ID Three. Good idea? Maybe, but the pattern of “walking out” was starting to look like a foothold‑shaking dance. Two weeks in, ID Two left too—

• Now only ID Three was left.
• Le‑fer? Unsure.

4⃣ All Hands on Deck (From the Boss)

Just four days later—on August 19—ID Three also dropped the project. L was left with no designer, just the boss of the firm to answer to.

5⃣ The Grand Finale (Or the Grand Confusion)

After that chaos all the way until November 29, the boss kept the project alive…but without any of L’s house renderings. “He didn’t have any of our renderings,” L says. “He even had to beg his ex‑designers and then ask us to forward them to him.”

Implications, for a Yarn

Each hand‑off felt like a surprise party where nobody knows the cake taste. If designers depart without proper handover, the client faces:

• Schedule dragons that only breathe delays.
• New faces who might not be the “specialist” that created the original vision.
• Loss of the sweet, glossy renderings that define the project’s pulse.

So, L’s experience reads like a sitcom: confusing, frustrating, but honestly a reminder to keep a stable squad behind a design project.

But perhaps it would have been bad even without changing designers

L’s Bathroom Disaster: A Tale of Bad Blueprints and Overpriced Fixes

Picture this: L has just signed off on a modern, minimalist toilet plan, thinking everything’s set to start. But when the work crew arrives in July, they drool over the sketch and say, “Hold up—this space will never hold that toilet.”

The Unexpected Cringe Factor

• Most HDB‑approved firms are used to Singapore flat plans. A single misread dimension can turn a bathroom into a tight‑rope walk.
• L’s first designer seems to have been out of practice, and even the second and third designers missed the same glaring issue.

Space That’s Too Tight

After installing the toilet bowl, L discovered a painful doorway drama: the door swings open near her knees, making every exit a near knockout punch.

The Shady Blame Game

The third design agency didn’t just shrug; they shifted the blame onto L for selecting the design and on HDB for “blowing up” inaccurate blueprints. Meanwhile, L had to cough up an extra $899 to swap her toilet bowl for a less intrusive model.

Other Renovation Missteps

On top of the toilet fiasco, the same ID firm let the contractors chop at the wrong wall: half the kitchen wall got hacked without following the plans. The issue only surfaced when the designers ran into L on site, trying to untangle the electrical mess.

All of these hiccups add up to a frustrating story that shows one thing: even the smallest oversight can blow a project out of the water—and into the wallet.

What went wrong? A day of delightful disasters

Picture this:

• The gate gets chained without a heads‑up, locking L inside the building—only to have the same mistake happen again. Classic eternal eyeliner hack for the parking lot.
• She missed a crucial gas‑installation appointment—thanks, Singapore Power, for blowing up the master ID system with a “you forgot” stamp.
• A study room door that swings the wrong way, making learners look like they’re inside a maze—L lane becomes “Doorway Sweat Swirl” style.

And there’s this gem: the service yard’s drainage was clogged enough to make a marathon swimmer sigh in disappointment. Even when the staff got nagged, the drainage went stubbornly silent. Imagine pouring a bucket of fresh rain—and the floor turns into soggy Netflix popcorn—one can only cringe.

Why it mattered

For all the complaints, the staff missteps piled up, from ignoring L’s concerns to letting the drainage do a dramatic performance that no one wanted to see.

It’s a mess—the take‑away being communication is often the one hero we need. But at least you got to witness a real-life series of comical blunders.

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Lack of communication between the ID and contactors

Tale of the Troubled Turbine: L and the Lavish Library of a $3,600 Stove

On October 8, L had one of those “write‑your‑own‑adventure” moments when she told the boss of the ID firm that her shiny $3,600 stove was basically a junkyard in disguise. The appliance was packed with debris, half‑used masks, cigarette packaging, and a handful of random rubbish. That’s where L’s eyes popped out like a cartoon character looking at the mess for the first time.

• She brought up the issue, hoping for a quick fix.
• The boss, fairly surprised, offered to handle the cleanup.
• L, ever the practical one, agreed to the plan.

Enter the Clean‑Up Crew

With everyone aligned, the team sprang into action. The stove’s hidden chaos got the attention it deserved, leaving L relieved that the big money piece could finally be enjoyed without wearing out her sunglasses looking at smoke!

When Your Home Gets a DIY Debacle

Picture this: you’re excited about a brand‑new, sleek stove that finally fits your kitchen’s vibe, but on November 11th, the contractor comes in and drops the bomb. “Those fancy 3,600‑dollar appliances? Gone,” he says, “along with your storeroom shelves. We didn’t ask first. We just tossed them.” Although he promised a replacement, that promise never became a reality.

Designer Gone Wrong, Locks Gone Wrong, And…

It isn’t just about a broken stove. The same day, the same crew mistakenly changed the wrong wall and swapped locks without telling you. Turns out, the interior designer (ID) and the contractors can’t seem to talk to each other—a classic case of miscommunication chaos.

Putting You In The Hot Seat

• October 6th: The ID asks you to pick new paint colors because the original ones went out of stock. #UnexpectedCrisis
• Boss’s 40‑minute Fashionably Late: Your design meeting is delayed by almost an hour because the boss shows up when they say they’ll be there.
• Lost Stove & Shelves: A $3,600 lifestyle gadget and your storage space mysteriously vanish.

In summary, you’re left juggling faulty communication, a missing stove, and a laundry list of renegade contractors. All of this while trying to keep your home looking good.

When Color Goes Wrong—A Painting Blunder Turns Into a Comedy of Errors

Picture this: the repainting crew finishes their work on October 18. Three days later, on October 21, homeowner L takes a walk through the newly painted space and spots a glaring mistake.

• Wrong hue on the balcony – They slipped the wrong shade into that area.
• Ceiling paint on the walls – What was meant for the ceiling ended up in the living room and bedrooms.

It’s one thing for painters to slip up, but what’s more puzzling is that the ID—our quality‑control system—never flagged this between the first finish date and the homeowner’s visit. Typically, ID systems would flag the job right after the contractor declares it done, only to scramble and correct the snags before the client notices. In this case, that didn’t happen.

The Aftermath: Redoing the Work (and The Problems That Came Along)

By October 25, the crew had redid the painting, but the new attempts introduced additional hiccups:

• Paint flakes onto unprotected floors—sadly, the hardwood has never been safe.
• Color splatters on window frames—who knew paint could be a window‑decorator?

In the end, the homeowner was left with a couple of extra fixes, a few mismatched swatches, and a story that will probably keep them entertained for years. However, the take‑away is clear: quality checks that happen too late can turn a simple job into a chaotic patchwork. Let’s hope future projects leapfrog these pitfalls with tighter inspections and happy customers.

Unexpected Bathroom Drama

Picture this: the big‑shot boss of the ID department is sitting on the throne of office authority, and all he wants is a new toilet tiler. He tells L:

• “I’ve reached out to over 20 tilers, yet none have come forward.”
• “Crisis: the wall tiles for the bathroom just won’t happen.”

L, feeling the pressure, steps into the shoes of a DIY detective. She dives into the contractor market, checks a motorcycle shop and a construction site, and within 24 hours she tracks down a tiler who’s ready to roll.

And to finish the twist, the ID boss himself decides it’s time to bring the tiler in—because no one else could keep the bathroom on schedule. The lesson? Sometimes the best solutions come from the people who actually get their hands dirty.

A sudden demand for full payment for carpentry

When the “Full‑Front‑Pay” Rule Became the Breaking Point

Picture this: you’re L, juggling a renovation, staring at a stubborn board, and the ID firm drops the ultimate bombshell – “pay us the entire amount up front for carpentry.” If you’ve ever lived in a house that feels like a glitch, you know why that was the absolute final straw.

Why the cash‑in‑advance was a nightmare

• Uncertainty galore: The ID firm lacked a clear timeline, no documented completion date, and absolutely no guarantees on the outcome.
• No accountability: Every hiccup that arose up to that point was shrugged off. The boss was all, “Sure, set up a WhatsApp group; the carpenters can talk to you directly.” That’s easy for them, but for L it felt like a polite handover of blame.
• Financial risk: The Case model agreement for renovations already warns against throwing a hefty lump sum to a contractor unless you’re willing to lose it. After all, the contract says: “Only pay when you’re happy with the finished work.”

Trying to split the bill

So L tried a clever move – she stripped the carpenter’s fee out of the quote and suggested a split payment. She reminded the firm that payment “should be withheld until the work was truly satisfactory.” But the ID boss was unwavering. The only option he offered was a full, 100‑percent advance, and any further work would be on the table until that money was handed over.

When the door closes

Ultimately, L decided not to sacrifice her sanity and her wallet. She called it quits with the ID firm and is now looking toward a legal route to reclaim her rights and momentum on the project.

Takeaway: Just because you’re willing to paint the walls doesn’t mean you’re willing to dump your money on a team that won’t keep you in the loop.

These are just scraping the surface of the issues

More Knack of Problems L Faced

While L was already juggling other challenges, a few more popped up out of nowhere. From struggling to get magnetic tracks onto the false ceiling, to skirting and plumbing that didn’t quite line up—you’ll see the details below.

• Magnetic tracks failed to install on the false ceiling.
• Skirting was improperly finished.
• Plumbing issues were left uncorrected.

Timeline summary

Want to Know How It All Unfolded?

Grab a front‑row seat and let’s walk through the major beats of this timeline in plain, conversational style.

• Day 1: The moment that sparked the whole adventure.
• Day 7: A pivotal turn that set the course.
• Day 14: The big twist that flipped everything upside down.
• Day 21: The climax where everything finally hits its stride.

There you have it—no jargon, just the story in the order it happened. Hope that gives you the quick snapshot you were looking for!

Renovation timeline:

From Dream to Disaster: L’s Renovation Rollercoaster

Plot twist: what should have been a quick remodel turned into a full‑blown soap opera. Below is the timeline of drama, delays, and questionable decisions—spiced up with a touch of humor because nobody likes being stuck in a construction saga.

March 2021 – The “Good Start”

• 14 March: L signs on with ID One and excitement is high.

June 2021 – The 3D Mirage

• 17 June: 3D rendering finished. At least the paperwork looks pretty.

July 2021 – When the Managers Switch

• 1 July: 70% deposit made.
• 1 July: ID One says she’s quitting—spice exchange rights transfer to ID Two and then ID Three.
• 11 July: Locked out of the house because the crew changed the locks without a heads‑up.
• 15 July: Wrong wall gets blasted—construction mishap 101.
• 21 July: A “common toilet” design won’t fit. Imagine explaining that to a bathroom.
• 25 July: Tiling begins, but with an odd sense of timing.

August 2021 – The Unplanned Gas-less Maze

• 8 August: Gas install appointment missed and no notice.
• 15 August: ID Two departs, handing over heat‑seasoned responsibilities to ID Three.
• 18 August: Study room door opens on the wrong side—something’s been flipped.
• 19 August: ID Three is out. The firm’s boss steps in like a superhero.
• 20 August: Master bedroom toilet concerns: knee meets door—unintended physics experiment.

September 2021 – Towers of Tiling Errors

• 5 September: Wrong‑way partition built before approval.
• 18 September: False ceiling completed but magnetic track omitted.
• 23 September: L buys a $899 wall‑hung toilet; the firm promises tiling can start right away.
• 30 September: Two‑month extension requested, spiralling into timeline turbulence.

October 2021 – Storms of Small Wins

• 3 October: Toilet flushing system installed.
• 8 October: The stove is littered with debris, masks, cigarette packaging—strictly a safety hazard.
• 10 October: Boss demands carpentry full payment before tiling finished.
• 11–12 & 19 October: Appointment cancellations by partition guys. The pandemic? COVID? Always a convenient excuse.
• 26 & 28 October: Tiler misses appointments, runs short on tiles, and then the boss orders more—a never‑ending loop of tile hoarding.

November 2021 – Even More Bizarre Failures

• 5–15 November: Several missed appointments.
• 12 November: Leak found in master bedroom pipes while no updates on tiler status.
• 14 November: Kitchen sink pipe installed in the wrong spot.
• 18 November: Vinyl floor measurement—do we really need it?
• 20 November: Another lock change and a second lockout.
• 21 November: Boss requests carpentry payment again, toilet leak still unsolved.
• 24 November: L finds our own tiler and forwards contacts—no chapter of “trust” here.
• 29 November: Boss claims no re‑sense of house renderings despite requests.

December 2021 – Finally, Salt in the Sunda

• 3 December: Tiling starts—one month and a week late.
• 6 December: Paint colour re‑selection goes wrong, boss late by 40 minutes.
• 10 December: Tiling finished.
• 11 December: House rubbish cleared, but the $3,600 stove and storage shelves are tossed out—who needs that?
• 16 December: Service yard pipe choked.
• 18 December: Painting done.
• 21 December: Wrong paint—ceiling paint masquerading as wall paint.
• 24 December: Vinyl laid, with huge scuffed gaps.

25‑26 December: Paint drips onto floors and windows—ideal for holiday present.

• 26 & 28 December: Final negotiations block payments; stove and shelves still unpaid.

Lesson Learned: Avoid the Renovation Red‑Flag System

Despite tighter regulations since the 2000s, L’s saga proves that poor communication, over‑extension, and mid‑project staff switches still plague the industry.

Communication Chaos

L experienced “walls of silence”: no updates, unanswered calls, and a boss who only revealed progress when pestered.

Concrete Negligence

Designers often tripped over timetables, arriving late, and the crew missed appointments, citing COVID as a convenient scapegoat.

What L suggests for future homeowners:

1. Gather five compared quotes before choosing a firm.
2. Inspect prior works on-site; resale reviews only give a hint, not a guarantee.
3. Include a rigorous work schedule in the contract—no vacuum gaps.
4. Negotiate a low, manageable down‑payment to avoid “hostage” situations.
5. Introduce a “liquidated damages” clause to penalize unreasonable delays—yes, even during the pandemic.

With 1,300 complaints in 2021—a 50% rise—homeowners must treat renovation contracts like expensive wars: plan meticulously, contract clearly, and never trust the first contractor that overpromises.

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